Purse, handbag or tote with secondary access for receiving reusable shopping bags

ABSTRACT

A handbag assembly including a top side, a bottom side, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior portion, the interior portion including at least a first compartment and a second compartment is provided. The first and second compartments may be separated by a dividing member. The first and second compartments may not include any fluid communication there between. The handbag assembly may further include a first access opening to the first compartment and at the top side of the handbag and a second access opening to the second compartment and on the bottom side of the handbag. The handbag assembly may further include a reusable bag removably retainable within the second compartment, wherein at least a portion of the reusable bag comprises a first pattern and at least a portion of the exterior surface and/or the interior surface comprises the first pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/858,432 filed Apr. 8, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Reusable, eco-friendly shopping bags are used as a convenient way to carry items in an environmentally friendly manner. Oftentimes, users of eco-friendly bags leave the bags at home and therefore they are not typically used. If not conveniently in tow, a reusable shopping bag is not used. Consequently, an aesthetically pleasing purse, handbag or tote for carrying reusable shopping bags is needed.

SUMMARY

A handbag assembly including a top side, a bottom side, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior portion, the interior portion including at least a first compartment and a second compartment is provided. The first and second compartments may be separated by a dividing member. The first and second compartments may not include any fluid communication there between. The handbag assembly may further include a first access opening to the first compartment and at the top side of the handbag and a second access opening to the second compartment and on the bottom side of the handbag. The handbag assembly may further include a reusable bag removably retainable within the second compartment, wherein at least a portion of the reusable bag comprises a first pattern and at least a portion of the exterior surface and/or the interior surface comprises the first pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A more particular description briefly stated above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the handbag assembly according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a bottom side view of an embodiment of the handbag assembly.

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway view of an embodiment of the handbag assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the handbag assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles and operation of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains

It is to be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like as used herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “a”, “an”, and “the” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and/or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” The term “fluid” as used herein, includes but is not limited to air, liquid, gas, powder, or any other such substance as known in the art to be included by the term fluid.

Embodiments described herein pertain to bags for carrying reusable bags there within. The handbag assembly provides a convenient and aesthetically pleasing manner to transport the reusable bags in addition to other items stored within the handbag assembly.

While the embodiments described herein discuss a handbag, the embodiments pertain also to book bags, totes, purses, clutches (and other strapless bags), suitcases, fanny packs, and other men's and women's bags alike. The reusable bags described herein may pertain to eco-friendly bags in some, non-limiting embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a handbag assembly embodiment 100 comprising a top side 10, a bottom side 12, an exterior portion 14, an interior portion 16, an exterior surface 18, and an interior surface 20. In the interior portion 16, a dividing member 22 is shown. The dividing member 22 divides the interior portion 16 into a first compartment 24 and a second compartment 26, and prevents fluid communication between the first and second compartments 24, 26. In other, non-limiting embodiments, the interior portion 16 may further be divided into more than two compartments and may include additional dividing members between the compartments. The dividing member 22 may be formed of an inner lining of the assembly 100, or may include a separate component disposed between the two compartments in the interior portion 16 of the assembly 100, in non-limiting embodiments. A first access opening 32 (shown in FIG. 3) provides access to the first compartment 24 and is at the top side 10 of the handbag assembly 100. A second access opening 30 (shown in FIG. 2) provides access to the second compartment 26, and is on the bottom side 12 of the handbag assembly 100. The assembly embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a handle 28.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the assembly 100 provided in FIG. 1. The bottom view shows the bottom side 12 of the embodiment 100, wherein the second access opening 30 is shown. The second access opening 30 provides access to the second compartment 26. The second access opening 30 may include an open and closure mechanism 33, shown herein as a Zipper, which can be operated to open or close the second access opening 30, respectively, to provide or prevent access to the second compartment 26.

FIG. 3 provides a partial cutaway view of the assembly embodiment 100 provided in FIGS. 1-2. The cutaway view shows a portion of the interior portion 16 of the assembly, as a portion of the exterior surface 18 has been cutaway revealing an interior surface 20, and a first compartment 24 and second compartment 26 separated by a dividing member 22. The first access opening 32 to the first compartment 24 is shown in the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3, at the top side 10 of the assembly 100. In other non-limiting alternative embodiments, the first access opening 32 may be provided on other portions of the handbag assembly 100 while providing access to the first compartment 24, such as, for example, on the upper side portion of the handbag assembly 100.

In the second compartment 26 in FIG. 3, a reusable bag 34 is partially retained there within. A second access opening 30 is shown in the bottom side 12 of the assembly 100 with the reusable bag 34 partially extruded there from, demonstrating removability of the reusable bag 34 through the second access opening 30. Until the reusable bag 34 is needed, it may be retained within the second compartment 26 of the assembly 100. The second access opening 30 may be securable by way of an open and closure mechanism 33 to maintain the second access opening 30 in a closed position until access to the second compartment 26 is required.

The open and closure mechanism 33 described herein may be used to prevent articles contained within the first and/or second compartments 24, 26, respectively, from being dislodged from the handbag assembly. The open and closure mechanism(s) 33 may include a Zipper closure, a hook and eye closure, a hook and loop closure, or a draw string closure, in non-limiting embodiments. Other such open and closure mechanisms known to those skilled in the art may also be used. In the assembly embodiment 100 shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the interior surface 20 includes a first pattern 19 and the reusable bag 34 includes the same, matching, first pattern 19 as the interior surface 20. The interior surface 20 may include a lining or an inner surface of a material of the first and/or second compartments 24, 26, or dividing member 22, in a non-limiting embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a handbag assembly 200, having a top side 10 and a bottom side 12. A first compartment 24 and a second compartment 26 are shown as separated by a dividing member 22, such that no fluid communication occurs between the two compartments. The first compartment 24 may be accessible via a first access opening 32 at the top side 10. The assembly 200 may optionally include a flap closure 36 as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, or in addition to the flap closure 36, the first compartment 24 may be opened. and/or closed by way of an open and closure mechanism 33 (not shown in FIG. 4) at the first access opening 32. The assembly 200 shows a non-limiting embodiment without a handle, such as a clutch, also known as an evening bag, in one non-limiting example. In the non-limiting example of the assembly 200 shown in FIG. 4, a portion of an exterior surface 18 includes a first pattern 19. The assembly 200 further includes a reusable bag 34 disposed in the second compartment 26. The reusable bag includes the first pattern 19. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a portion of the exterior surface 18 of the assembly 200 includes a second pattern 21.

In some further, non-limiting embodiments, the reusable bag 34 may include a logo. The logo on the reusable bag 34 may also be included on the exterior surface 18 or interior surface 20, or both, of the assembly 100, 200. In still a further embodiment, the bottom side 12, or at least a portion thereof, may include a pliable material. In another embodiment, the exterior surface 18 may include a pliable material. In still another embodiment, the interior surface 20 may include a pliable material. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A handbag assembly comprising: a top side, a bottom side, an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior portion, said interior portion comprising at least a first compartment and a second compartment, and the first and second compartments being separated by a dividing member, said first and second compartments having no fluid communication therebetween, a first access opening to the first compartment and at the top side of the handbag; a second access opening to the second compartment and on the bottom side of the handbag, and a reusable bag removably retainable within the second compartment, wherein at least a portion of the reusable bag comprises a first pattern and at least a portion of the exterior surface and/or the interior surface comprises the first pattern.
 2. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein an open and closure mechanism is connected to the second access opening.
 3. The handbag assembly of claim 2, wherein the open and closure mechanism comprises a Zipper, hook and loop fastener, and/or hook and eye fastener.
 4. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein an open and closure mechanism is connected to the first access opening.
 5. The handbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising a handle.
 6. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface comprises a second pattern.
 7. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface comprises a second pattern.
 8. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bottom side comprises a pliable material.
 9. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom side is comprised of a pliable material.
 10. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface comprises a pliable material.
 11. The handbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the interior surface comprises a pliable material. 